Canvas storm screen



Sept. 28, 1937. M. M. MCQUARRIE CANVAS STORM 50mm Filed Nov. 27, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet; 1

Attorneys Sept. 28, 1937.

M. M QUARRIE .CANVAS STORM SCREEN Filed Nov. 27, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Zajj/Ie JZZ. MK IQ/m Attorneys Patented Sept. 28, 1937 UNETED STATES PATET OFFICE CANVAS STORM SCREEN Maggie Millikan McQuarrie, De Land, Fla. Application November 27, 1936, Serial No. 113,075

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a so-called canvas storm screen such as is adapted for use in connection with screened in sleeping porches and the like, and has reference in particular to a selectively adjustable structure adapted for disposition inwardly of the usual wire screen to provide for proper ventilation and to permit suitable adjustment depending on varying weather conditions.

10 The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a single sheet of canvas or equivalent material having stabilizing and retaining rods at upper and lower ends whereby to permit the rods to be regulated in predetermined ways to 15 completely close the screened opening or to partially close it to obtain ventilation from the top, the bottom, or both top and bottom as the case may be.

Indicated along more specific lines the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a plurality of simple wooden fixtures or brackets arranged in predetermined pairs and in proper relative position to permit the canvas screen to be stretched completely across the opening which 25 it is adapted to cover, or to permit it to be folded upon itself to facilitate ventilating at the top, at the bottom, or both at the bottom and top as varying weather conditions may require.

Manifestly, the principal purpose of the inven- 30 tion. is to provide a simple and economical structural arrangement which may be satisfactorily utilized to insure safety and comfort for the occupants of the sleeping porch.

Other features and advantages will become 35, more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like mechanical parts 40 throughout the views:.'

Figure 1 is a fragmentary inside elevational View showing a portion of a screened sleeping porch and further showing the supplementary protector canvas screen and illustrating how it 45 appears when it is utilized as a complete closing curtain.

Figure 2 is a central vertical sectional View through the structural assemblage depicted in Figure l and illustrating a portion of the roof of 0 the porch.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic sectional and elevational view showing the lower portion of the canvas curtain or screen turned up to let the air in at the bottom.

55 Figure 4 is a similar view showing how the curtain-like screen may be adjusted in a socalled centralized state to ventilate the openings at both the top and bottom.

Figure 5 is a view the reverse of Figure 3 showing how the structure is adjusted to close the 5 opening at the bottom and ventilate the porch from the top.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the simple wooden cleats or keeper brackets.

Reference being had now to Figures 1 and 2 it 10 will be observed that the porch floor is denoted by the numeral 1. The roof is indicated at 8 and the sheathing is denoted by the numeral 9. The ordinary wire screen is indicated at It and the vertical struts or frame members are denoted by the numerals ll. Incidentally, the screen Ill may be differentiated as the permanent screen and the canvas screen may be designated either as the supplementary screen or storm curtain as the case may be. As a unit the storm curtain is denoted by the numeral l2 and is of an area corresponding somewhat to the wire screen. The screen Hi can of course be of a permanent type or the regular detachable or removable type such as is ordinarily employed in so-called screened-in sleeping porches.

The canvas curtain I2 comprises a single strip of canvas of appropriate storm-proof texture. The upper end is formed with a hem I3 forming a pocket for receptionof a removable stick or rod M. The ends of this extend beyond the corresponding ends of the hem or pocket and are adapted to be removably seated in keeper notches provided therefor in the fixedly mounted hanger blocks or brackets l5. These are distinguished as the upper hanger brackets and are mounted at the desired elevation between the adjacent posts or frame members H as shown to advantage in Figure 1. A similar hem or pocket It is provided at the bottom and this also accommodates a removable rod or stick H. The ends of this are adapted to be placed and held beneath relatively fixed cleat-forming blocks l8 fastened between the frame members ll just above the horizontal hand rail l9. Thus by anchoring the ends of the rod I4 in the hanger blocks l5 and placing the ends of the rods ll beneath the fixed cleats H! as shown in Figures 1 and 2 the canvas is stretched completely across the opening and is disposed in parallelism and inwardly of the main screen ill. In this position it functions as a complete storm curtain or shield. At this time I find it advisable to utilize the stabilizing bar 20, this being placed across a central portion and suiture 4.

ably supported to prevent undue flapping of the canvas in high winds.

I next call attention to a pair of oppositely arranged fixedly mounted notched keeper blocks 2|. These are mounted on the frame members II at a predetermined distance below the hanger blocks I5. These may be conveniently distinguished as the upper keeper blocks. A similar pair of blocks are denoted by the numerals 22 and these are mounted beneath the blocks 2! and may be called the lower keeper blocks. As a matter-of-fact both sets of blocks 2| and 22 are in eifect the in termediate keeper brackets in relation to the upper and lower fixtures or brackets 15 and I8. It follows therefore that by disengaging the lower end of the canvas from the cleats I8 and placing the adapter rod 2i! in the lower keeper brackets 22 the canvas can be turned up on itself to allow the ends of the rod I! to be engaged in the keeper brackets or blocks 2! as shown in Figure 3. When in this position the lower half portion of the screened opening is uncovered and this provides the bottom ventilation. The reverse of this is shown in Figure 5 wherein the bodily adjustable adapter rod 20 is located in the keeper notches in the keeper blocks 2 I. Assuming then that the rod ii is in its original position beneath the cleats iii, the upper part of the canvas is hung down over this rod 20 and the upper rod i4 is located-in the notches in the keeper blocks 22. This provides a ventilating opening at the top. Under certain conditions it is desirable also to ventilate both the top and bottom at the same time and this is accomplished as shown in Fig- As is evident the ends of the rod it are then located in the keeper blocks 2|. The rod I?! has its end fitted into the keeper notches in the blocks 22. The adapter stick or bar 20 is then dropped into the fold of the canvas where it functions as a weight and causes the canvas to hang down in a substantially taut fashion. Of course this adjustment is used only under favorable weather conditions. As a matter-of-fact all three adjustments depicted in Figures 3, 4, and 5 are used in so-called ordinary weather. It follows therefore that with this arrangement and the series of blocks utilized four distinct adjustments are permissible ranging from that shown in Figure 2(to that shown in Figure 5.

The gist of the invention may be briefly summarized in the following way:

Canvas curtains with solid bar at top and bottom alike. Adjustable by brackets alone. Can

i be adjusted so as to have air from top and bottom at same time or from top or bottom alone, or

completely closed up, as desired. Easy to adjust at different angles or remove for cleaning. No pulleys, cords or automatic features to get out of adjustment or become troublesome. One

partly closed bracket to be used when screen is fastened to porch all around. One half open bracket to be used where screens are made on removable frames. One solid cross bar to be used in center when completely closed up or drop in curtain when raised to prevent blowing. Brackets fastened inside casing. Curtain fastens at bottom under solid bracket or cleat and pin.

It is thought that the description taken in connection with the drawings will enable a clear understanding of the invention to be had. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary. 7

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the field of invention claimed be resorted to if desired.

I claim:-

In a structure of the class described, a wall having an opening therein and wall including a pair of vertically arranged frame members forming the side walls of the opening and a horizontal frame member forming th bottom wall of theopening, a curtain of flexible material, a rod at each end thereof with the ends of the rods projecting beyond the side edges of the curtain, a cleat connected to each vertical member slightly above the horizontal member, said cleats forming spaces between themselves and the horizontal member for receiving the ends of the rod at the lower end of the curtain, a cleat connected to each vertical member and having a notch in its upper end located slightly above the upper wall ofthe opening, the. notches of cleats being adapted to receive the ends of the upper rod, when the curtain is to entirely close the opening, other cleats having notches in their upper ends, connected with the vertical members and located between the upper and lower cleats and adapted to receive the curtain rods when the opening is not to be entirely closed by the curtain and a third rod disconnected from the curtain and adapted to be engaged with the intermediate cleats for looping the curtain about the same when the opening is not to be entirely closed by the curtain, said rod being placed in a pair of intermediate cleats inwardly of the curtain when the same is used to entirely close the opening for preventing bulging of the curtain.

' MAGGIE MILLIKEN MCQUARRIE. 

